Improvement in folding wagon-tops



C. CHENE'ETE.

FOLDING WAGON-TOP.

No,173,897, Paiented Feb. 22,1876.

UNITED STATES P Tmrr OFFICE.

OHRISTOPHE CHENETTE, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING WAGON-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,897, dated February 22, 1876; application filed July 24, 1875.

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, GHRIsToPHE GHENETTE,

of Manchester,'in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a Folding Wagon'Top, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to construct a wagon top or frame in such a manner as to admit of its being readily folded up in a small compass for transportation, and also to provide a ready means for closing and opening the rear end of the wagon; and the invention consists in hin'ging the side supports or ribs and also the rear door or flap in sucha manner as to admit of the several parts being folded one over the other, so as to enable the tops or frames to be packed in a small compass, by which means they can be transported in large numbers and at much lessexpense and with greater safety than when made and transported whole or ready for use.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of the frame of a wagon embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view, with the parts folded together, and Fig.

3 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line .70 m.

(t represents the floor or wagon-bottom. .g g h h are the horizontal side rails, and b I) c are the upright stays or ribs of the wagontop. The ribs 1) b c are hinged or pivoted to the upper rail h, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. On one side of the frame the upright ribs 0 are hinged at a port-ion of their length, as seen in Fig. 3, so as to enable one portion of the same to be doubled under the other portion for convenience in folding.

floor a, as seen in Fig. 1, or in any other suitable manner.

At the rear end of the top or frame is hinged a door or flap, d, provided at each side with a notched segmental piece of metal, 6, the notches of which engage with a catch, 1, by which means the flap may be held open at any desired angle, as shown in Fig. 1. The segments e are attached to a rod, f, bent at each end to form a handle, by which they are readily operated. When the flap is closed it is locked firmly in position by means of, the segment 0 and its catch. The flap or door at is hinged to a strip, k, which latter is also hinged to the upper portion of the rear part ofthe frame, so as to enable the flap to be foldedover the wagon-top, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When thewagon-top is to be transported, the lower ends of the upright ribs b c are slipped out of their fastenings to the floor. The ribs 0 are then doubly folded, as shown in Fig. 3, and over these are folded the ribs b, as shown. The flap d is thenfolded over, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this position, and placed upon the floor a, as seen in Fig. 3, the wagon or frame may be securely packed for transportation. When at their destination, the several parts may be very readily placed in position for use, as required. The flap, \vhile' securing the rear of the wagon when closed, affords protection to the contents of the wagon and also to the person using the same from the rain and sun, When open.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with the folding wagontop, I claim the doubly-hinged dooror flap d, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the folding wagontop, I claim the hinged door d, the toothed segment 0, catch '1, and handle f, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OHRISTOPHE OHENETTE.

Witnesses:

ISAIE MESSIER, RICHARD J. P. GooDWIN. 

